6 posts from February 2008

Friday, February 29, 2008

In the course of providing services for a U.S. client based in the Mid-West seeking to do business in Japan, I realized that there are many challenges that smaller companies face when trying to do business in a market as far away and as different as Japan such as:

• Lack of know how• Lack of resources to dedicate to projects and information gathering• The general “ Not even sure where to begin”• Communication challenges

Lacking the resources to dedicate to managing and doing the actual day to day work involved in the process of entering the Japanese market, most companies, especially smaller ones, either:

• Give up or think they cannot possibly do it so they don't even try• Employ incorrect entry strategies• Spend precious time and money in the wrong areas and often times don’t achieve their goals

This was the case of my client. Check back to see how we were able to help them.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

In the course of providing services to my clients in the Japan-US business community, I realized that there are many challenges that smaller companies face when trying to do business with Japan that are unique.

I created the Case Study series to provide examples of some of these issues that companies face and the solutions that I was able to implement to assist them in their business dealings in Japan.

Please come back to view our case studies. These will be a valuable source of information for other companies small or large that are doing business in or with Japan.

I realize that even today, some companies still think that to have experience or understanding of different cultures is not really important in business.

This way of thinking often causes companies a lot of trouble and expense in the long run when doing business in and with foreign countries. The horror stories of the past have been well documented. Large companies that were not able to utilize workers skills in a foreign country due to cross-cultural challenges and negotiations that broke down due to a lack of understanding between the cultures at the bargaining table. These companies have learned that to ignore this part of business can often times have serious consequences.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Japan-US Business News lives in the potential of all the possiblities for businesses in the Japan-US marketplace today.

Businesses that recognize that things have changed and continue changing. That by adapting in this ever changing environment that technology has brought about, they can revolutionize the way business is done.

There are many companies, both large and small, doing some interesting and innovative things in this marketplace. These innovations should be widely talked about. This is what Japan-US Business News is all about.

Smaller and mid-sized companies are using technology to do business at levels unheard of in the past and succeeding. A small company in Tokyo, Osaka or some smaller town in Japan can have an idea today and be in business tomorrow due to the technology advances of today. They can put their products and services in front of anyone in the world as I did with my company, Burton Consulting International. I can be located in New York, get hired by a European client and do work for end-users in Japan without leaving my office.

There are thousands of companies out there with this potential. If you are one of them, visit us often.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

The idea for the Japan-US Business News Blog was born over a year ago. As I worked to build my Japan-related consulting business, I met many people in the Japan–US business world through my work and networking. People who are experts in their Japan related fields as well as novices who suddenly found themselves working for a Japanese company and of course Japanese business professionals.

Monday, February 04, 2008

Japan–US Business News Blog was created by Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International (BCI). This blog is a new forum for information, discussion and advertising from and for the Japan-US business community.

It will provide a forum for advice on doing business in Japan by people with expertise in the fields of business, technology, finance, and cross-cultural communications. It will be a valuable source of information into the changes and innovations taking place in this segment of the global business economy.

Do you have a story of a business success with Japan?

Do you see the changes taking place in Japanese related business in this global economy?

Are you employing new methodologies in doing business with Japan?

Are you a Japanese business person in the U.S. dealing with American or other foreign client?

Do you want to change the perception of doing business in Japan?

Are you a new thinker, innovator who is trying something new in this market?

Are you utilizing technology to do business in a new way?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this blog is for you.